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Muddy Valley Farm

~ Life on a tiny west coast hobby farm

Muddy Valley Farm

Monthly Archives: July 2017

When a Chicken Growls

28 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by Jodi in Chickens, Farm Life, Wildlife

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IMG_3980Our local predators know where all the chickens in the neighbourhood live, and drop by the barnyard often, to scout our defenses.

The eagles, turkey vultures, ravens and hawks attack from above, picking off one bird at a time. Our trees and roofed pens slow them down some, but they usually grab a few chicken dinners each year.

If they can get in, raccoons and mink will wipe out a whole coop in minutes. Chickens aren’t equipped for hand to hand combat. Mink, the little monsters, will stack the bodies in a neat pile. Mink are just plain weird, and wow they have crazy eyes. I know…I played chicken-tug-of-war with one last summer. The chicken didn’t make it, but I sure got a good look at the mink.

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In retrospect, I am happy that I ended up with a few smaller coops instead of one big one, because this way I will never lose my whole flock to a single ground troop assault. A predator would never be methodical enough to break into one coop after another.

Every afternoon around one o’clock, I let the flocks out to free range until dusk and when the sun sets, they put themselves to bed. Free ranging helps to keep them safer too. One or two might get nabbed, but good luck to any predator trying to chase forty chickens heading off at top speed in forty different directions. Strange as it sounds, I think my chickens might be safest when they are roaming free.

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The dogs and I are often out puttering in the barnyard when an eagle or raven flies over. And that is when something really cool happens. Our barnyard community, the birds, the dogs and me, all connect, and communicate, and react as a unit to the enemy at the gate.

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It’s usually a rooster who first raises the alarm, growling loud and long. We all know exactly what he means.  Others begin to echo him, and as the low rumbling chicken growl swells and rolls across the barnyard, everyone freezes. A pause ensues while we each pinpoint the threat and then we all snap into action.

The birds under cover stand stock still. The birds out in the open swerve for cover, while Chance and Liza run out from under the trees and give chase, craning their necks to keep the bad guy in sight, and barking hysterically at the threat high above them. I get into the act too, raising my arm and in my best growly voice ordering the predator to be gone. This has no effect on anything, but it makes me feel useful, and a part of the high drama playing out around me.

The dogs are usually enough to send the enemy on his way, and then we all settle back down, satisfied at having vanquished the threat once again.

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Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie

23 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by Jodi in Chance

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When Chance first came to us, I noticed he slept a LOT. Some days it seemed he snoozed all day long, and it never seemed to disturb his night’s sleep like it would you or me.

A little concerned, I turned to Google to find out if his sleep habit was within normal ranges. I learned that dogs sleep 12-14 hours a day, and puppies and certain breeds even more, up to 20 hours a day. He is definitely on the high end of that spectrum.

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Chance often sleeps with his tongue sticking out, and that, combined with his large head, short legs and “big-dog-in-a-little-dog’s-body” attitude, makes us wonder if he might have Osteochrondrodysplasia…dog dwarfism.

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He sits on one haunch, as if his back is too long and front legs too short to sit normally, and he often sleeps with his head twisted awkwardly. But he seems to cope with his unusually shaped body, and the vet is unconcerned, so we will just let that sleeping dog lie too.

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He loves his solar powered naps, and I often think when I see him sleeping that he is leading a pretty nice dog’s life. Not bad for a little guy who was on death row down in San Bernadino before his mug shot got him a truck ride up to Canada.

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All the Tender Young Things

20 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by Jodi in Chickens, Farm Life

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IMG_6171.JPGDavid Cassidy is in his element these days, with all his spring chickens getting close to point of lay and ready for some loving.

 

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Its easy to tell who is “doing it” and who isn’t, laying eggs that is. Just before she lays her first egg, a pullet’s comb gets bigger and redder. Check out the comb difference in the two Swedish Flower pullets above. One is three weeks older than the other, and laying.

Ahhhh those young, flirty, carefree days. You don’t know it gals, but you’re in the springtime of your lives…better enjoy it!

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Chance the Amazing Telekinetic Dog

15 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by Jodi in Chance, Farm Life

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I picked up a couple new dog bones Thursday night, and from the moment they entered the house, Chance knew. They sat on the mantel between the kitchen and living room at first, but I knew he was pining for them, so I moved them to the sewing table in my office. Out of sight, out of mind, I thought.

I wanted to wait until he really needed distracting. Like when he got left behind on the next bush hike, which happens a lot, because his physique can’t handle the terrain. Poor little guy, he tries hard to stay right on the big dogs’ heels, but he high centres on logs, just about drowns in deep puddles, etc.

Tonight, relaxing in my chair reading, I heard a thump from my office, so I went to check it out. And there was Chance, standing at attention, focussing intently on the smaller bone. And it had moved! No longer next to the bigger bone, it was now hanging off the edge of the table!

 

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What an amazing dog! Of course he hadn’t TOUCHED the bone, not the best dog on earth! Chance would never stoop so low. He had simply wished hard, and the bone had begun to come to him!

Well that was that. I couldn’t force him to suffer any longer, I unwrapped it, and handed it over. After all, I don’t want him getting too good at telekinesis, he is already a handful!

 

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Nice Dark Eggs

11 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by Jodi in Chickens, Farm Produce

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My January Black Copper Marans pullets have started laying, and I am really pleased with their egg colour. I hatched only the darkest eggs, and my rooster is from good dark egg lines. Looks like the selective breeding is paying off.

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My same age Olive Eggers are just at point of lay too, I can’t wait to see what shades of olive eggs they lay.

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The Big Clean

09 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by Jodi in Chickens, Seasons

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I am happy to be at the tail end of this weekend, and absolutely knackered too, because this year, I deep cleaned all three coops in a single go. Vacuumed, scraped, scrubbed, power washed, swept, tore out, repaired, refreshed, redesigned and redid; it all got done this weekend.

I like to do my annual deep clean in July, after we have had a bit of heat, because that’s what brings on the mites, and I want to hit those little suckers when it counts. The summer after my first full year keeping chickens, I was unpleasantly surprised by a bad red mite infestation. It was a relief to not find a single mite this year, as I disassembled roosts and pulled nestbox assemblies, to take them outside to scrub. The year round wood ash/peat moss/sand dust baths are helping my birds keep themselves pest-free. The layer of diatomaceous earth under each nest, where my girls can’t breathe it in, is helping too. There was lots of dust and dander, cobwebs and feathers, and of course chicken poo galore, but no pest problems.

 

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I am pretty happy with the new roost layout in the cedar coop, increased from 18 to 24 linear feet all on the same level. (Gasp! room for more chickens?) I replaced V3 broody box with version 4 – this one folds up out of the way against the wall when not in use, and the middle roost is easily removable with its drop in design. It will be easier to clean in there this year.

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Of course it was Becky the B (the white, green legged girl, who spends her days outwitting K’s garden defences) and her sister buff Turken who checked out the new digs first. Chickens are curious, and the smarter they are, the curiouser. 🐓

 

Exploring the Barnyard

06 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by Jodi in Chickens, Farm Life

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Alsty took her latest brood out for their first wander this evening. Peeping excitedly amongst themselves, the kids darted here and there, never going too far from mama. Alsty kept up a running commentary too, pointing out choice morsels, issuing warnings, and clucking reassuredly to chivvy the timid ones along.

After all that excitement, I’m sure they will sleep well tonight.

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Cistern Snail, Again

04 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by Jodi in Farm Life, Gardening, Wildlife

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I am not sure if this guy was in the watering can or the cistern, but after I dipped, filled and emptied, there he was! Snails are so pretty, I  can’t hurt them, I just relocate them. Yes, I know, I’m a softie.

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